Tag Archives: metanoia

A Change of Heart

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Vajragoni

Metanoia, a Greek term, refers to a profound transformation that occurs within an individual, a complete change of heart that takes place deep within the recesses of consciousness. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus the Christ explains that unless one undergoes this inward conversion and becomes childlike, they will not be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lankavatara Sutra also describes this radical inner conversion as a sudden awakening within the dormant bodhimind of the aspiring adept. In the practice of Unbornmind Zen, the concept of becoming childlike resonates with the idea that the dormant bodhiseed gradually develops into the bodhichild, the developing bodhisattva, who turns away from defiled sensory experiences and begins the process of rediscovering its true essential nature in the Unborn Buddha Mind. read more

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Other voices…Other rooms

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Vajragoni

I have chosen Robert Thurman’s translation of the Vimalakirti Sutra for our 40-day Dharma study. Charles Luk’s version is fine, but Thurman’s version seems to resonate more for me. Also, Luk’s subtitle of his published translation of the sutra is “Ordinary Enlightenment”. As we shall see, there is nothing Ordinary or Extraordinary when it comes to Vimalakirti (Vimalakirti supersedes all known categorical imperatives). read more

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Metanoia

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Vajragoni

Essentially, metanoia (greek) means an inward conversion, a radical change of heart through the “turning-about” within the deepest recesses of consciousness. Jesus the Christ in Matthew’s Gospel account explains it thus, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matt 18:3) The Lankavatara Sutra calls this radical inner conversion, the turn-about—pavavritti—or a sudden awakening within the dormant bodhimind of the aspiring adept. In Unbornmind Zen, Jesus’ words ring true concerning the notion of becoming childlike in this endeavor, for it is the dormant gotra, or bodhiseed that gradually develops into the bodhichild (developing bodhisattva); it is this bodhichild that turns-about from defiled sensate phenomena and begins the process of Recollecting its true essential and primordial stature in the Unborn Buddha Mind. read more

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